Conner Run Refuse Impoundment dam
Conner Run Refuse Impoundment
The Conner Run Refuse Impoundment, located in Wheeling, West Virginia, is a public utility structure designed for tailings storage on Conner Run. This dam, completed in 1976, stands at a height of 267 feet with a hydraulic height of 182 feet and a length of 1400 feet. With a storage capacity of 15,750 acre-feet and a surface area of 155 acres, this impoundment is regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its high hazard potential is managed effectively.
The dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, with its last inspection occurring in October 2013, and it is deemed to meet safety guidelines. The emergency action plan for the Conner Run Refuse Impoundment was last revised in April 2015. Despite being a high hazard structure, the impoundment is designed with buttress core types and unlisted/unknown foundations, demonstrating a focus on structural integrity and safety. The impoundment serves as a critical storage facility for tailings, helping to manage waste materials effectively while prioritizing environmental and public safety in its design and operation.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find the Conner Run Refuse Impoundment to be an intriguing example of engineering ingenuity in managing industrial waste products. As a key structure in the area, it plays a vital role in waste management while adhering to state regulations and undergoing regular inspections. The impoundment's strategic location and design highlight the importance of balancing resource utilization with environmental safeguards, making it a compelling case study for those interested in sustainable water management practices in the context of industrial operations.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Conner Run Refuse Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Captina Cr. At S.R. 148 At Armstrongs Mills | 39 cfs | → |
| Ohio River Above Sardis | 43,000 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek Below Blaine Oh | 56 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 82 cfs | → |
| Middle Island Creek At Little | 128 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Conner Run Refuse Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Powhatan Point Boat Launch
- Clarington Village Ramp
- 13th Street 107, Moundsville
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
- West Adams Street Paden City
- Barkcamp State Park
Track Conner Run Refuse Impoundment in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Conner Run Refuse Impoundment
Where does the data for Conner Run Refuse Impoundment come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Conner Run Refuse Impoundment.